The Adventure Guys - Archives for: May 2008, 01

The inside story on outside recreation

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

Travel Channel to feature Stehekin and Lake Chelan tonight

Posted by Craig Hill @ 09:19:41 pm

From North Cascades National Park:

Stehekin and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area will be featured on Travel Channel’s Into America’s West with Jeff Corwin tonight, May 1 at 11:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 3 at 6:00 p.m. Mr. Corwin visited Stehekin and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area last summer as part of the series, the settings for which are described on the Travel Channel website as “America's greatest National Parks and Reserves, where the natural beauty and splendor of both the landscape and native wildlife are protected. Jeff's journey takes him through some of the most stunning landscapes on the planet; from the mighty Grand Canyon to the snowy peaks of Mount Baker, and wide-open plains of Montana to the pre-historic formations of Yellowstone Park.”

Categories: Adventure Guys, North Cascades National Park

Lake Roosevelt fish consumptiion warning

Posted by Jeff Mayor @ 09:33:24 am

State health officials are recommending more limits on consumption of fish caught in popular Lake Roosevelt because of pollution. They’ve issued the same warning for the Spokane River.

New tests show that the amount of polychlorinated biphenyls and mercury in fish tissue may be worse than previously thought.

For Lake Roosevelt, burbot and largescale sucker have been added to an earlier advisory covering walleye pike because of mercury levels. The recommendation for walleye is no more than two meals per month and for burbot and largescale sucker no more than four meals per month by women of childbearing age, nursing mothers and young children.

The PCB-related advisory for the Spokane River has been expanded and applies to the general public. State health officials recommend that no fish taken from the Idaho border to Upriver Dam in Spokane be eaten.

Largescale sucker caught between Upriver Dam and Nine Mile Dam should not be eaten, and all other species taken from the same stretch of the river should be limited to one meal per month.

For the Long Lake reservoir on the river, largescale sucker and brown trout should be limited to one meal per month.

Click here for more information.

Categories: Jeffrey P. Mayor, Fishing, Adventure Guys

North Cascades Highway opens today

Posted by Craig Hill @ 09:13:33 am

The North Cascades Highway opened this morning starting the busiest part of the year for North Cascades National Park.

“This is an exciting day as we celebrate … the increased opportunities for recreation and fun made possible by the highway’s opening,” said Kinsey Shilling, the park’s chief ranger.

The highway, Highway 20, closed in December because of snow.
Starting Saturday the North Cascades National Park Visitor Center near Newhalem will be open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount is open Fridays through Sunday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. but expands to daily operation May 18.

The North Cascades Highway is also considered one of the nation’s most scenic drives. Highlights include overlooks of Ross Lake and views of Jack Mountain and Hozomeen Peak.

For more information on recreational opportunities now available because of the opening of the highway visit www.nps.gov/noca.

Categories: Cycling, Backpacking, Fishing, Hiking, Adventure Guys, Paddling and rowing, North Cascades National Park

The Adventure Guys

We admit it. We've got great jobs. How many people get told by their bosses to go out and play? We write about those experiences each Thursday in The News Tribune’s Adventure section. But there's always more to the story. Here, Craig Hill and Jeffrey P. Mayor will share the inside stories on their adventures - including their misadventures - plus post news and answer your questions.

CRAIG HILL

Craig Hill is The News Tribune’s injury-prone Adventure writer. After eight years covering college football and basketball, he started writing about adventure sports in 2004. He writes about everything from mountaineering and cycling to skiing and camping. You can reach him at craig.hill@thenewstribune.com

JEFFREY P. MAYOR

Jeffrey P. Mayor has been The News Tribune’s Adventure editor since 2003, and oversees our weekly Adventure section. His coverage focuses on fishing, hunting, Mount Rainier and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. You can reach him at jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com